The Hispanic population in the United States: March 1985
Denavas, C.
Current population reports. Series P-20, Population characteristics 1988(422): 1-74
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0363-6836 PMID: 12158797 Document Number: 368434
This report presents data on the demographic, social, and economic characteristics of the Hispanic population in the US. Most of the data shown in the report were collected in the supplement to the March 1985 Current Population Survey. Comparable data for the overall population and the non-Hispanic population are also included. The social and economic characteristics presented include age, sex, marital status, educational attainment, employment status, family composition and size, income, and poverty status. Some highlights of the data follow. 1) The Hispanic population in March 1985 totaled about 17 million, a 17% increase since 1980. 2) The median age of Hispanics was 25 years in March 1985 compared to 23.9 in 1982. 3) The proportion of Hispanics 25+ who completed 4 years of high school or more (48%) was higher in March 1985 than in 1982 (45%). Non-Hispanics also experienced a comparable improvement in their educational attainment level. 4) In March 1985, 72% of Hispanics families were maintained by married couples, down from 74% in 1982. 5) The unemployment rate for Hispanics 16+ was 11.3% in March 1985 compared to 13.4% in 1982. 6) An apparent increase of 15% was evident between 1981 and 1984 in the median earnings of Hispanics and non-Hispanics; the effects of inflation rendered this increase insignificant. 7) The median income of $18,800 for Hispanic families in 1984 was about 14% above the 1981 level of $16,500; however, there was no significant change in the real median income of Hispanic families after adjusting for the 14% increase in consumer prices between 1981 and 1984. In comparison, the real median income for non-Spanish families increased by 3.5% to $27,000 in 1984. 8) No statistically significant change was evident in the poverty status of Hispanics despite an apparent increase between 1981 and 1984; in 1981, 23.5% of Hispanic families had incomes below the poverty level compared to 25.2% in 1984.